Sunninghill Literally Throw Away All 3 Points...
In a poor game today filled with some of the strangest goals you will see, Sunninghill managed to go home with no points after leading 3-1 with 7 minutes remaining.
With Jon Bennett still injured, Mike Ward away and Rob Forde delayed an understrength Sunninghill started slowly against an also under strength West End side, with the away side settling the quicker but Sunninghill started to find their feet after a few crunching tackles from Ben Moutrey lifted the side, but West End went ahead on 15 minutes when a through ball found the striker who cut inside and his scuffed effort meant Reagan who had already gone down to make the block, Sunninghill started to put a couple of passes together but struggled to make more then 3 or 4 before posession was given away.
In the 24th minutes Sunninghill equalised in bizaare circumstances when pressure down the right chased the West End centre back and the pressure meant he turned inside and attempted to clear cross field, unfortunately for him his clearance happened to be a perfect cross to the waiting and surprised Tim Finch with an open goal guided his header in, now shocked West End sat back a bit and Toby Underwood made space and his deep cross was challenged for with the keeper by Finch, the ball somehow ending up in the West End net, half time came and an undeserved 2-1 lead.
The side came out looking better in the second half and began to take control and from a overhit ball through with neither striker gambling Charlie Harcup chased down the lost cause and his pace meant the keeper was forced to pick up the ball outside his area, a yellow card and a direct free kick followed, Rob Harcup stepped up and his low drilled effort beat the keeper only to come back off the post where Parker was following in to make it 3-1. Sunninghill were now in control as West End seemed a bit stuck for ideas, they made a double substitution with 20 minutes remaining which gave them more of an attacking look as they started to gain more posession.
Manager for the day Azarian then replaced Moutrey who had worked tirelessly all game and may have felt surprised to be subbed with McDowell, as the West End midfield began to overrun the midfield battle, and as they pushed men forward began to cause problems, they should have been awarded a penalty soon after when Ridings mis timed lunge in the area upended the West End striker, the referee waved away the appeals but as so often happens following a great last ditch tackle from Rob Harcup a penalty was awarded, a harsh decision but this evened up the earlier penalty that should have been given. After a short delay in which Gurr was booked the well struck penalty was at a good height as Reagan dived full stretch to push the ball around the post.
Azarian then brought himself on for the hard working Finch and the ball failed to stick up front now with West End regaining posession far to easily which enabled them to builed more pressure on the back line.
As the game entered the final ten minutes the team sat back perhaps thinking the game was won and after a routine long goal kick was allowed to bounce by the Sunninghill centre defence Reagan was caught in no mans land as West End giant Kleboe outjumped Gurr on the edge of the area looping his header over the stranded Reagan.
The side now looked shaky and with 4 minutes left a corner was sliced to the edge of the area where it was flicked back into the area, the defence were all caught flat footed and some awful marking allowed a West End player to bring the ball down and fire low into the net.
And the turnaround was complete in the dying seconds when a neat 3 man move released the right midfielder whose cut back was flicked goalwards and with the defence once again caught flat footed no one reacted to the loose ball as the West End striker poked the ball home from 5 yards, in the end a deserved scoreline after some awful defending and lack of concentration which for not the first time this season has cost us points and what looks to be any chance of challenging for the league this season.
Player Ratings
Chris Reagan - Caught out for 2nd goal, good saves however and great penalty stop kept us in front. 7.
Jai Zutshi - Could not be faulted, worked hard and was definsenvily solid. Booked. 7.
Rob Harcup - Was solid for most of game, dominant in the air and read game well. 7.
John Gurr - Dealt well for majority of game, beaten to ball for 2nd goal after routine long ball. 6.
Martin Riding - Solid as per usual in the tackle and air, didnt get forward as much as usual. 7.
Charlie Harcup - Started brightly pace caused problems but faded late on, persistence won free kick for 3rd goal. 6.
Dan Parker - Battled well in the middle, controlled the game until late pressure, followed up well for goal. 7.
Ben Moutrey - Got stuck in and alongside Parker controlled the midfield until he was withdrawn on 65 mins. 7.
Toby Underwood - Couple of good balls and touches in first half but largely anonymous in second period. 6.
Tim Finch - Worked hard up front, persistence meant he finished game with 2 goals, looked biggest goal threat until being subbed. 7.
Dave Barron - Usual neat flicks but struggled to impact game and gave away posession too cheaply. 6.
Subs
Paul McDowell - struggled in the middle after coming on, didnt manage to impact the game as West End began to get upper hand in midfield. 6.
Ali Azarian - Didnt trouble West End defence when trying to see game out, didnt make ball stick as posession was given away to cheaply. 6.
